Abbott will extend troop deployment on the border

1of 4An immigrant from El Salvador, seven months pregnant, she said, stands next to a U.S. Border Patrol truck after she and others turned themselves in to border agents on December 7, 2015 near Rio Grande City, Texas. Many pregnant women, according to Border Patrol agents, cross illegally into the U.S. late into their terms with the intention of birthing their babies in the United States. All people born in the U.S. are American Citizens, according to the U.S. constitution. Border Patrol agents continue to detain hundreds of thousands of undocumented immigrants trying to avoid capture after crossing into the United States, even as migrant families and unaccompanied minors from Central America cross and turn themselves in to the Border Patrol to seek assylum. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)Photo: John Moore, Staff / Getty Images

2of 4*** BESTPIX *** RIO GRANDE CITY, TX - DECEMBER 09: U.S. Border Patrol agents search a migrant family after they crossed the U.S.-Mexico border on December 9, 2015 near Rio Grande City, Texas. The number of Central American migrant families and unaccompanied minors crossing into Texas has again surged in recent months. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)Photo: John Moore, Staff

3of 4MCALLEN,Tx-Gil Kerlikowske Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection sits on the floor to talk with a family Wednesday Aug. 26. 2015 at processing center in McAllen. Photo by Delcia Lopez dlopez@themonitor.comPhoto: Delcia Lopez, MBR / AP

4of 4Gov. Greg Abbott announced Tuesday plans to extend the deployment of National Guard troops on the border.Photo: TOM REEL /SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS

McALLEN — Citing a significant increase in the number of immigrant crossings on the Texas border, Governor Greg Abbott today said he is extending the deployment of the National Guard troops on the border.

In a statement, Abbott said he will increase the number of boats and tactical officers on the Rio Grande, as well as increase aerial observation missions.

The numbers of unaccompanied children and families caught crossing the Southwest border illegally spiked in recent months, prompting the federal government this month to add 1,400 temporary beds in two new immigrant shelters in Texas and one in California.

Nearly 10,600 minors were apprehended between October and November, compared to slightly more than 5,100 during the same period a year ago.

“In September, I warned Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson ‘about the significant increase in unaccompanied minors who are once again pouring across our border,’” Abbott said in news release. “I asked for his ‘immediate and bold action to prevent this from escalating into an uncontrollable crisis.’

“Despite the warning — followed by a phone discussion about the matter — my request for more border patrol agents and strategic resources to secure the border were ignored. Now, the concern I warned about has turned into reality: A substantial spike in illegal crossings has occurred at a particularly unsuspecting time, once again challenging Texas’ security and resources.

“Texas will not sit idle in the face of this challenge,” Abbott added. “We will not be victimized as a state by a federal government’s apathetic response to border security.”

Aaron Nelsen is based in McAllen and is responsible for covering the Rio Grande Valley. Before joining the San Antonio Express-News in 2013, he was a freelance reporter and the TIME Magazine correspondent in Chile. He has also been a staff writer for the Brownsville Herald.